ἀρεστός

From the study of 1 John 3:22

Range of meaning

ἀρεστός: pleasing, acceptable, agreeable, right or fitting. ἐνώπιον: before, in the presence or sight of. Together: "the things pleasing before him", i.e. what he looks on with approval.

Against the English

BSB, KJV, NASB and WEB keep "in his sight". NIV and ESV shorten it to "what pleases him", which loses the picture of living under God's gaze. "Pleasing" could suggest anxious approval-seeking to a modern reader. The phrase actually comes from the language of a son's or servant's loyal service.

Used elsewhere in the period

ἀρεστός appears only four times in the New Testament (John 8:29; Acts 6:2; 12:3; here). The closest parallel is Jesus in John 8:29: "the one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, because I always do the things pleasing to him". The Greek Old Testament uses similar phrasing for doing "what is right in the LORD's eyes". Exodus 15:26 joins doing "what is pleasing before him" with heeding "his commandments", the same pairing as this verse.

From the study of Acts 12:3

Range of meaning

Pleasing, agreeable, acceptable: what wins someone's approval. In the neuter it can mean "what seems good, what is fitting" (BDAG). It is used both of what pleases God and of what pleases people.

Against the English

"Pleased" (KJV, BSB, WEB) is accurate. The NIV's "met with approval" catches the sense of public approval well. None of the major English versions distort it.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint), τὰ ἀρεστά often translates the Hebrew phrase for what is right or good "in the eyes of" the LORD (e.g. Exod 15:26). Jesus says "I always do what is pleasing (ta aresta) to him" (John 8:29), and 1 John 3:22 speaks the same way. Luke has the apostles say "it is not pleasing [right] for us" to neglect the word (Acts 6:2). In everyday Greek letters, "if it seems pleasing to you" was a polite formula.

From the study of John 8:29

Range of meaning

Pleasing, acceptable, agreeable. With 'do' (ποιεῖν), it means to do what someone approves of, what accords with their will (BDAG). In the New Testament it is rare: John 8:29, Acts 6:2, Acts 12:3, 1 John 3:22.

Against the English

Most versions say 'what pleases him' or 'the things that are pleasing to him.' The English is not wrong. But 'pleasing' can suggest pleasing someone's moods or winning their approval, when the phrase is a set biblical expression for faithful obedience to God's will.

How it drifted

Modern English 'please' tends to drift toward emotional satisfaction ('making God happy') or anxious approval-seeking ('people-pleasing'). The Greek phrase came to Jesus' hearers through their scriptures as covenant vocabulary.

Used elsewhere in the period

The Greek Old Testament uses this phrase for the Hebrew 'do what is right/good in the eyes of the LORD.' In Exod 15:26 Israel is to 'do what is pleasing before him' (τὰ ἀρεστὰ ἐναντίον αὐτοῦ ποιήσῃς). Deut 6:18 and 12:28 say 'do what is pleasing and good before the Lord.' Hezekiah prays 'I did what was pleasing before you' (Isa 38:3). The Johannine letters use it for discipleship: 'we keep his commandments and do the things pleasing before him' (1 John 3:22).